Eighth GOP debate: Highlights from New Hampshire

Donald Trump did not hold any punches during the ABC Republican Debate as he called out follow candidates and explained why he thinks Hillary Clinton can't win against him.
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MANCHESTER, N.H. — Three days before the New Hampshire primary, the Republican candidates faced off on the debate stage at Saint Anselm College.

The eighth debate for the GOP field marked the return of Donald Trump, who boycotted the Fox News debate on Jan. 28, days before he went on to lose the Iowa caucuses to Ted Cruz. Cruz and Trump were joined on stage by Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, John Kasich and Jeb Bush.

Here are all the highlights; all times are Eastern.

10:38 p.m.: Closing statements:

John Kasich notes he has done more than 100 town halls in New Hampshire and cites his message that is both conservative and positive.

Chris Christie says he puts the people first and cites his experience as prosecutor and governor.

Ben Carson says the media has tried to ignore him, but he's still here— and he's not going anywhere.

Marco Rubio talks about his kids and says they remind him of what he's fighting for — uniting the party to make the nation a better place for all families.

Ted Cruz says he is the only Republican candidate who has actually stood up to the government— notes his opposition to ethanol subsidies in Iowa, where he won the caucuses.

Donald Trump — who accuses Cruz of "getting Ben Carson's votes" in Iowa — says if he is president, "we will win, we will win, and we will win."

And we're out.

10:31 p.m.: Super Bowl picks. Yawn. Most of the candidates went with Carolina, though Jeb Bush stuck up for Denver because quarterback Peyton Manning likes him.

10:25 p.m.: Social issues: Marco Rubio says he respects supporters of gay marriage, but "I believe deeply" in traditional message. As for abortion, Rubio says he comes down "on the side of life;" he says the Democrats are "extremists" because they oppose any restrictions on abortion.

Jeb Bush says he is the "most pro-life person" on the stage, but there should be anti-abortion exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother.

Rubio says he also believes in protecting the life of the mother "because I'm pro-life."

Chris Christie says he's been pro-life in one one of the most pro-choice states in the union, including the defunding of Planned Parenthood. Christie also says anti-abortion exceptions should be made for rape and incest.

10:22 p.m.: Ted Cruz says families should not be allowed to raise ransom for hostages — it encourages terrorists to kidnap more Americans for money, effectively putting a bounty on them.

Donald Trump says he knows the mother of the kidnapped and killed James Foley, but you "shouldn't negotiate that ways with terrorists"; it would lead to "more James Foleys."

10:18 p.m.: Candidates protest the performance of the veterans' health care system and vow to improve it.

Jeb Bush talks about a veteran who received a death certificate in the mail, even though he's still alive: "I met him — he's voting for me."

John Kasich talks about jobs programs for veterans.

Marco Rubio notes his brother is a veteran, and he has had problems with dental care.

10:12 p.m.: Marco Rubio says women should be required to register for selective service, just as they are allowed in combat — and then adds his standing protest about the downsizing of the military.

Jeb Bush also backs selective service registration for women and says the military should be politicized. "The draft is not going to be re-instituted," he adds.

Christie, noting he has two daughters, says women should be allowed to register for selective service. Otherwise, it's discrimination.

Carson says we need to treat out veterans better.

10:10 p.m: Marco Rubio says that, like President Obama, he would visit a mosque — but claims that Obama is dividing people by exaggerating the level of discrimination faced by Muslims in America.

10:04 p.m.: Race in America: Trump is asked how he would bridge the divide.

Trump says police are being mistreated and are hesitant to act because they "afraid for their jobs;" says nothing about African-Americans who say they have been the victims of police abuse. Asked about them, Trump says they can sue. He adds that bad police officers need to be discipline: "You're going to have problems ... You have to weed out the problems."

Kasich advocates a "win-win" approach, addressing the needs of African-Americans and police officers.

9:53 p.m.: A video question from a radio talk-show host: How do you run against Hillary Clinton, who would be the first female president?

Trump cites his polls, saying his "movement" will generate enough voters to beat Clinton — assuming the email flap doesn't sink her candidacy. "We will win it handily," he said.

Rubio notes more Republicans voted in Iowa than Democrats — the GOP is already sufficiently motivated to beat Clinton, who disqualified herself via Benghazi and the email flap.

Carson says he presents an "easy contrast" to Clinton, saying he would make it a referendum on honesty and integrity.

9:48 p.m.: A local issue in New Hampshire surfaces: heroin abuse.

Cruz notes his late older sister struggled with drug and alcohol addiction and that leadership is needed to solve this "epidemic" — and that includes securing the border over which drugs flow.

Christie cites his experience as a federal prosecutor and his work dealing with drug issues.

9:41 p.m.: Cruz says he will rescind all of President Obama's "illegal" executive actions.

Trump says he will make "great deals" as president, avoiding the need for executive actions. He blasts the Iran nuclear deal.

Kasich says the country needs a leader who can get the country to "rise up," and he will have a plan for the first 100 days in office.

Bush says the states should get more respect and be allowed to meet their own problems.

9:37 p.m.: Cruz says waterboarding is not torture, but an "enhanced" and "vigorous" interrogation technique — he might bring it back, but not in widespread use, only if it were really necessary.

Trump says he would bring back waterboarding, and "a helluva lot worse than waterboarding."

Bush objects to overuse of drone killing and the closing of the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Rubio also seems okay with waterboarding and complains that nobody is being interrogated at this point.

9:33 p.m.: Bush supports new airstrikes on Libya, in concert with Arab and European allies. Blasts the Obama administration, saying that "leading from behind is not an effective policy."

Carson says ISIL may try to move into Libya, reason enough to get more involved there.

9:31 p.m.: Trump echoes his plan to bomb Islamic State oil fields and "take their oil," dismissing concerns of environmentalists about those kinds of attacks. Says U.S. should also figure out ways to take away ISIL's wealth.

9:25 p.m.: Cruz defends his plan to "carpet bomb" the Islamic State, targeting oil facilities, infrastructure, and command and control facilities. One target: a new "jihad university."

Rubio calls ISIL "an apocalyptic group" that wants a final showdown with the west. He says the US will have to work with Arab partners to defeat them.

9:23 p.m.: "I don't know of any problem in America that's going to be fixed by tax increases" — even tax hikes just on millionaires, an idea most Americans support.

Bush says he would like to see "more millionaires," not more taxes.

Christie says his predecessor raised taxes on millionaires — many of whom then took their wealth from the state.

9:17 p.m.: Trump is asked exactly "how" he can fulfill his ambitious plans. The businessman says he can bring jobs back from other countries by cutting better trade deals and ending offshore tax havens.

Christie praises Kasich's performance as governor of Ohio — but he added that "John" is misleading people about his record as governor of New Jersey. Christie also finds time to bash Rubio over immigration and his claim that President Obama knows what he's doing.

Kasich responds: "I like Chris." But he also suggests he is the better governor.

Rubio responds by saying people like Christie don't understand how Obama is intentionally trying to change the country.

9:15 p.m.: Trump says conservatives should conserve what is good about the country.

Rubio questions whether Trump is a true conservative and says it should be about limited government.

9:13 p.m.: Back from a break, a philosophical question arises: What does it mean to be a conservative?

Kasich says he can cut taxes, balance a budget, grow jobs and be a conservative, but one who can work with Democrats and other groups of people. Conservatives should help everybody rise.

9:02 p.m.: Trump defends eminent domain, calling it a necessity to build things like roads, bridges, schools and hospitals. "You need eminent domain," he says, calling it "a good thing" and that property owners are well-compensated.

Bush says too many people — including Trump — use eminent domain for private purposes, like his casino in Atlantic City. Trump tells Bush to be quiet — "he wants to be a tough guy ... and it doesn't work very well."

When the crowd boos, Trump says other candidates filled the stands with big donors — and draws more boos.

8:56 p.m.: The health care topic comes up.

Trump vows to repeal Obamacare and replace it with something better, one based on "free enterprise."

Cruz, who has been accused by Trump of having "no heart," says "socialized medicine is a disaster and does not work." His plan would allow people to buy insurance across state lines.

The doctor in the house, Carson, also stresses market reforms.

8:52 p.m.: Immigration surfaces.

Cruz says that, like Trump, he would build a wall along the Southern border, and he defends plans to deport millions who are already here illegally.

Rubio says "comprehensive" immigration reform is impossible and needs to be done step-by-step — starting with better border enforcement. Only then can you develop some sort of path to legal status to people who are already here illegally.

Christie jumps in to blast Rubio for failing to push for a plan he once backed in the Senate.

Rubio replies his initial approach "has no chance of passage."

8:45 p.m.: Bush says North Korea feels it can take an American hostage because the U.S. is sending "signals of weakness."

Christie says North Korea will understand nothing but "power" and "strength"; he opposes the idea of ransom for hostages.

8:43 p.m.: Would Trump consider military action against North Korea? First, Trump disputes Rubio's claim that President Obama "knows what he's doing." Trump says Obama "doesn't know what he's doing." As for North Korea, Trump says U.S. should get China to deal with them.

8:38 p.m.: Cruz says North Korea missile launches are a sign of what we will face with Iran. Says he hasn't been briefed on Saturday's launch "because I'm here in New Hampshire" and can't say where he would launch a pre-emptive strike against a North Korean missile.

Kasich finally gets a question and says U.S. has to pressure China into dealing with North Korean misbehavior.

8:35 p.m.: Bush finally gets a word in — and a chance to bash Rubio. Bush says he has "the leadership skills" and Rubio doesn't.

Both Bush and Christie liken Rubio to President Obama: A first-term senator with good speaking skills but no real experience.

8:32 p.m.: Christie and Rubio go at it; Christie says governors get things done while senators make canned speeches; Rubio says "Chris" had to be "shamed" to return to his state to handle the recent snowstorm; Christie hits "Marco" for reciting a memorized speech, and never having a snow storm to worry about.

8:28 p.m.: Rubio gets his first question: Do first-term senators have the experience needed to be president? And why couldn't a supporter name one accomplishment of Rubio's in the Senate.

Rubio cites work on the VA and "eminent domain" abuse — and then rips President Obama.

Christie promptly attacks Rubio for his Senate record, saying he has done nothing of note and misses too many votes: "That's not leadership, it's truancy."

Rubio respond by bashing Christie's record as governor of New Jersey, including a credit downgrade.

8:25 p.m.: Carson notes that it is Ronald Reagan's birthday — so he won't attack Cruz for spreading rumors in Iowa that he planned to exit the race. But he does rip Cruz's team, and says the incident reflects "certain types of Washington ethics."

Cruz calls Carson "a good and honorable man" and again apologizes: "Ben, I'm sorry." He does cite a CNN report saying Carson might leave the race, and his people forwarded that information to Iowa voters.

The media filing center for the Republican presidential debate at St. Anselm College includes a large video screen displaying motion graphics about how the candidates are trending on Google.
Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Television crews from various networks set up in wood-walled stalls in the media filing center for the Republican presidential debate at St. Anselm College on Feb. 6, 2016, in Manchester, N.H.
Joe Raedle, Getty Images

The media filing center for the Republican presidential debate at St. Anselm College includes a living room complete with electric fireplace and sofas and a Google lounge and cafe on Feb. 6, 2016, in Manchester, N.H.
Joe Raedle, Getty Images